VICTORIA, N.L. — He’s got almost 11,000 square feet of office space to work with, and Grant Davis has high hopes about who will fill it.
“It’s exciting,” the pharmacist told The Compass, standing inside the building he intends to share with family physicians, specialists and physiotherapists.
Davis, a Carbonear native, is currently setting up Victoria Medical Centre, located in the former Pentecostal church on Route 70. The building underwent extensive renovations to become a personal care home, leaving Davis ample room for setting up offices for doctors in addition to his own pharmacy.
Davis has worked for multiple pharmacies in Newfoundland and owned one in Ontario that was already well-established, but this is his first venture into setting up a full medical clinic. His wife is also a pharmacist. After starting a family, he said they felt a mutual need to move back home.
“Our parents were back here, and everybody was getting older and having their own issues that come along with that, so we wanted to come home and be closer to them.”
Davis has been back in Newfoundland for almost six years. Knowing there is considerable demand for family physicians in the Trinity-Conception region, he decided there was potential to do more than simply open a standalone pharmacy.
“In terms of the physicians, there’s a major shortage around here,” he said. “Basically, I’m trying to build a nice complex here for physicians and physiotherapists.”
The town council has been incredibly supportive, Davis said, adding he senses there’s considerable anticipation in the community about the medical centre.
“People know about it now, so everywhere I go … it’s constantly, ‘When are you opening? What’s the status?’ I think the people are looking forward to it, and I think that they will support the business.”
He expects to have Davis PharmaChoice open by April 1, though he admits there could be shipping complications forcing him to push that date back a bit if necessary — some of the equipment required for operating a pharmacy cannot be purchased in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The right side of the main floor of the building, facing the road, will be occupied by Davis PharmaChoice. It will be a typical dispensary offering over-the-counter and prescription medications, as well as a room for medication counseling services. The remainder of the main floor would be suitable for two or three general practitioners, including office space, a waiting area and exams rooms.
Davis has identified the top floor as a space for specialists and the basement for physiotherapists.
Renovations are ongoing and have included upgrades to plumbing and the elevator, though he’s holding off on some work in order to see what potential tenants may desire.
“It’s being done to the best of my ability to attract the physicians, and I’ll do what I can to get those guys here,” said Davis, who is actively recruiting tenants for the building.
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